grad student applicant, poor U

[stareatthesky]

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I just got my MCAT scores back with a 31: 8PS/12VR/11BS, and I'm currently working on a graduate degree, and have a ~3.7, but my undergraduate GPA was less than stellar: ~3.2, with ~2.8 sGPA.

My grad program is a thesis program, so I spend a lot of time in the lab for research, and I've got one paper accepted for publication, but not yet published (unfortunately not first author, though)
I volunteer one day a week in a free clinic (>180 hours at this point)
Spent 2 days a week volunteering in a hospital one summer (unsure how many hours)
>150 hours other, non-healthcare volunteering
a small amount of shadowing in a pediatrician's office
peer educator, peer mentor, some other leadership, and several other ECs

I had a lot going on for a few years in undergrad with my family and personal life, and that probably had a detrimental effect on my grades for awhile, but no excuses- I took a hard look at what I was doing and where I was going and turned things around.



Planning on putting in apps at both MD and DO schools, but was hoping to get some input/suggestions for where I might have a good shot.

 

[red doctober]

It's going to be very tough for MD schools because of your undergrad GPA. Although your grad-GPA was very good, adcoms aren't going to weight that very strongly because graduate programs are notorious for grade inflation. I do think you have a decent shot at DO schools, and because of that I'd recommend applying to more DO programs than MD programs.

 

[Goro]

Strongly concur; the unbalanced MCAT will probably add some more hurt int he eyes of MD AdComs, but not DO ones.

It's going to be very tough for MD schools because of your undergrad GPA. Although your grad-GPA was very good, adcoms aren't going to weight that very strongly because graduate programs are notorious for grade inflation. I do think you have a decent shot at DO schools, and because of that I'd recommend applying to more DO programs than MD programs.